Impatiens plants named ‘TiLav’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of ‘Impatiens walleriana’ plant named ‘TiLav’, characterized by large lavender fully double flowers, flowers that are positioned above or beyond the foliage, dark green foliage and mounded, freely branching and dense plant habit.

BACKGROUND—FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar botanicallyknown as ‘Impatiens walleriana’ and by the cultivar name ‘TiLav’.

The cultivar of the photograph was developed and selected in acontrolled breeding program in a controlled environment in Coquille,Oreg. by the inventors, Harlan Cosner and Sue Cosner, as describedherein.

BACKGROUND—DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

The only known cultivar of prior art is named ‘Lavender Orchid’, subjectof U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,615.

COMPARISON

The impatiens plant of the present invention differs from prior plants,namely ‘Lavender Orchid’, in at least the following ways:

1. the plant of the present invention has been shown to have a moreupright vase shape than ‘Lavender Orchid’;

2. the stems of the present invention are a much darker color than‘Lavender Orchid’;

3. the contrast between the colors of the flowers and foliage is muchmore pronounced in the present impatiens plants than in ‘LavenderOrchid’; and

4. the stems are stronger than those of ‘Lavender Orchid’.

These and other characteristics will be apparent to persons skilled inthe art.

BACKGROUND—DISCOVERY AND PARENTAGE

The present cultivar was developed by standard cross-pollination. Itsseed parent is a semi-double impatiens plant with lavender flowers. Thisplant was designated ‘B-9X-3’ (unpatented) under the inventors'controlled breeding program. The pollen parent is a pollen-producingdouble impatiens plant with lavender flowers. This plant was designated‘B-9X-322’ (unpatented) under the inventors' controlled breedingprogram. The instant plant is both male and female sterile, compared tothe male parent, which is only female sterile. The cross was made in theinventors' breeding program, and the first asexual reproduction was madeat Coquille, Oreg. Successive asexually reproduced generations haveshown the present invention to be stable. Each asexually reproducedgeneration has been accomplished using cuttings lateral stems withleaves.

The traits of the cultivar of the present invention that have beenobserved in each successive generation of asexual reproduction and whichare unique are the large lavender fully double flowers, flowers that arepositioned above or beyond the foliage, dark green foliage and mounded,freely branching and dense plant habit, and both male and femalesterility.

Color references are according to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significanceare used.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following observations, measurements and description of the plantsand flowers are based on the environmental and cultural practices atCoquille, Oreg. The following measurements, values and comparisonsdescribe plants grown under a double layer of polyethylene film withtemperatures typically ranging from about 55° F. to about 85° F. duringthe daytime. Night heat was provided by bench top set at 62° F. Theindividual plants were grown in six-inch Azalea containers in a soilessmedium. Plants were liquid fed with high nitrate plus trace elementsapplied at N level 150 PPM of 2 feed, one leach. Plants started in lastweek of June and finished in late September. Light levels were 4,000 to6,000 ft. candles.

The plant of the present invention has not been observed in all possibleenvironmental and/or cultural conditions. The phenotype may varysignificantly with variations in environment such as temperature, lightlevel, humidity and also with cultural practices such as fertility, soiland water quality.

The accompanying photograph illustrates the overall appearance and theflower color of the cultivar of the present invention described herein.The photograph was taken of a mature plant of 14 weeks of age, duringfull inflorescence. There may be variations between the colors in thephotograph and the colors in the following description due to lightreflectance, or the amount of blue or red light captured in the film. Ifsuch variations occur, the written description shall control.

Parentage:

The new cultivar was developed by standard cross-pollination. As notedabove, its seed parent was a semi-double with lavender flowers; itspollen parent was a pollen-producing double with lavender-coloredflowers.

Propagation:

Type cutting.—Lateral tips of plants were the cuttings used for asexualreproduction.

Time to inititate roots.—Approximately 7 to 14 days at 72° F. soiltemperature.

Appearance and form of plant:

Plant form and habit.—Upright vase, with a medium vigorous, dense andbushy growing habit.

Plant size.—Height is about 26 cm and width is about 30 cm.

Rooting description.—The rooting description is characterized bynumerous, fibrous and well-branched roots.

Branching habit.—Plants are self-branching. Stems are strong and freelyproduced. The number of stems depends upon cultural practices, age ofstems used as cuttings and the number of growth buds present on thecutting when stuck.

Stems.—Diameter is about 0.7 cm., and become larger with age. Internodelength is about 4.5 cm. Color is close to 147B on more shaded surfaces,with more exposed surfaces marked to heavily marked with, or completelycolored 187A.

Foliage.—Leaves are simple, generally symmetrical, abundant, alternateand flat. Shape is ovate with attenuate base, acuminate apex, andcrenate margin. Texture is smooth and satiny.

Foliage size.—Size of the largest leaves is about 6.5 cm in length, and4.5 cm in width.

Foliage color.—Adaxial color is darker than 147A, venation is 147A.Abaxial is 148B with blotches close to 177A, venation is 148A.

Petioles.—Petiole shape is half round with a flat upper surfacemeasuring about 3 mm wide, about 2 mm in depth, and about 3 cm inlength. Color on the top is streaked with a hard to determine colorsthat appear close to 146B to 178A, color on the bottom surface is 146B.

Flower size.—Diameter of about 4.7 cm, and depth of about 2 cm.

Flower texture.—The flower texture is smooth and satiny.

Flower count.—Generally 15 or more per stem from visible buds to openflowers at any time during the flowering period.

Natural flowering season.—Year around under greenhouse conditions, andthe frost-free period from spring until fall outdoors. Flowers arecontinuously produced throughout the flowering season.

Duration of flower.—About four to seven days.

Time to flower.—About seven weeks from a rooted cutting.

Buds.—Buds are ovate in shape with a length of about 0.8 cm, a width ofabout 0.6 cm and a depth of about 0.7 cm. Bottom color is 146B on thetop and 146D on the bottom.

Petal size and shape.—Shape of petals is obovate to exaggerated obovate,entire margin, with obtuse to retuse apex. The largest petals generallyconsist of 2 petals fused at the base, each is about 2 cm and width isabout 2.5 cm.

Petal color.—Adaxial surface color of a mature flower is 74D with a darkspot at the base close to 59B. A juvenile flower is close to 74C incolor with a dark spot at the base close to 59B. The abaxial surfacecolor is 75A for both mature and juvenile flowers.

Petal count.—Numerous, usually 25 or more.

Spur.—Shape is acicular tapering, wider at base than apex. Color is 146Cat base darkening to a reddish color close to 183B at the apex. Lengthis about 3 cm and about 2 mm wide at base.

Calyx.—The calyx consists of one sepal. The sepal shape is ovate withtruncate to cordate base, and acuminate apex, entire margin. Length isabout 1 cm and width is about 0.8 cm. Bottom color is close to 145C. Topis 145B to 145C with base spot close to 183C.

Peduncles.—Length is about 2 cm and diameter is about 2.5 mm. Color is148A.

Pedicels.—Length is about 2 cm and diameter is about 1.5 mm, generallynumbering from 2 to 4 per peduncle with a color of 146B.

Reproductive organs.—The plants of the new cultivar are both male andfemale sterile. No reproductive organs have been found to exist.

Disease resistance.—The instant plant has not been tested for diseaseresistance.

Rooting ability.—Easy, no hormones needed.

What is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Impatiens walleriana as illustrated and as described herein. 